Mark 13:7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.
Jesus is letting us know from about 2,000 years ago in the past. Wars and rumors of wars will happen before He returns. The point is not to create “Fear Porn”. Christ is telling us, “do not be alarmed.“
The Greek word for alarmed is θροέω / throeó. The word can also be translated as: disturbed, troubled, agitated.
Are wars awful, yes. Bloodshed and death are currently happening and escalating.
We are trending towards the end. There is no need for drama or confusion. We are told wars and rumors of war are coming so we can know “the end is not yet.“
Gaza Update…
Gaza update:
Main combat operations in the north of Gaza have come to an end, though there is still an IDF presence.
The IDF has encircled Al Bureij camp and advanced south along the Salah Al Deen Road.
U.S. President Biden has released a Statement regarding tonight’s Joint-Airstrikes by Aircraft, Ships, and Submarines of the U.S. and British Armed Forces against the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen, with the Support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands; at the End… pic.twitter.com/hzJHxDtzfL
BREAKING HERE IN WASHINGTON: A Pentagon Report Just Out reveals $1 billion worth of weapons Sent to Ukraine Unaccounted For, and nearly 40,000 weapons have not been properly monitored, Even As Congress Debates Whether The U.S. Should send more money to Zelensky.
Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Sweden’s Civil Defense Minister, advised citizens to “brace for war”.
“For a nation for whom peace has been a pleasant companion for almost 210 years, the idea that it is an immovable constant is conveniently close at hand. But taking comfort in this conclusion has become more dangerous than it has been for a very long time,” Carl-Oskar Bohlin.
With the news, Swedes are prepping and buying supplies.
Newly elected President Daniel Noboa has effectively declared war on drug gangs in Ecuador.
Noboa took office in November touting his ‘Phoenix Plan’ for security, including a new intelligence unit, tactical weapons for security forces, new high-security prisons and reinforced security at ports and airports.
Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates have joined the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
For those who are counting, that is 10 member nations. Is this the 10 nation group mentioned in Daniel and Revelation? I doubt it. This group is looking to expand. There are many others who are looking to join the BRICS club.
Zechariah 9:5-6 Ashkelon will see and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, as will Ekron, for her hope will wither. There will cease to be a king in Gaza, and Ashkelon will be uninhabited. A mixed race will occupy Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
Here is the latest operational update from War Mapper.
The #IDF have continued to make gradual advances over the past week in both the North and around Khan Yunis.#Israel has issued an evacuation warning for central Gaza. Just south of Wadi Gaza, the initial separation line used for the operation in the north. pic.twitter.com/z6Mdyt45QT
Numbers 10:9 And the LORD turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt.
The Red Sea is effectively closed to commercial traffic. Here comes more inflation…
Red Sea is now largely closed to traffic. That's 8.8 million bpd of daily oil transit, and nearly 380 million tons of daily cargo transit.
Global traffic now will be rerouted around Cape of Good Hope, adding 40% to voyage distance (and even more to cost) pic.twitter.com/Xct7x03tFI
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational initiative focused on securing maritime commercial routes in the Red Sea, amid increased attacks by the Houthis from Yemen.
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) December 19, 2023
Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea has practically Collapsed as France, Spain, and Italy have all announced their Withdrawal from the U.S. Command Structure for the Operation, with the Three Nations stating they will only conduct further Maritime Operations under the… pic.twitter.com/zhfih2XpTa
23DEC2023 Updated map of warships operating in Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea. Also adding last night's infographic on which ships are partaking in what operations and the current assets part of Operation Prosperity Guardian
Micah 1:4 The mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will split like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.
❗🌋🇮🇸 – Aerial images captured just minutes ago of the newly opened volcanic fissure near Grindavík, #Iceland. It is estimated to be around 3 km long!
According to initial information, the eruption appears to be located 3-4 km northeast of #Grindavík, in the eastern part of the… pic.twitter.com/ATyqnpbSEF
Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Headline from NPR…
Pope Francis approves Catholic blessings for same-sex couples, but not for marriage
“Fiducia Supplicans: On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings,” marks a major departure for the Vatican, which only two years ago had said God “cannot bless sin”
1 Samuel 17:4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
For those who are not familiar, Goliath is an ancient Philistine. He was roughly 9 feet tall and a few inches.
The modern day Gaza Strip is located in the ancient land of the Philistines. Ancient Gath appears to be close to what is modern day Kiryat Gat, Israel.
And to this day, this geography remains an area of conflict.
The #IDF has advanced into southern Gaza, taking up positions on the central road into Khan Yunis. The coast road remains passable for the time being.#Israel has also resumed attacks in the North, in the vicinity of Jabalia. pic.twitter.com/KM44kdNo7r
Jeremiah 49:21 At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea.
Pirate activity is intensifying in the Red Sea.
Today, there were four attacks against three separate commercial vessels operating in international waters in the southern Red Sea. These three vessels are connected to 14 separate nations. The Arleigh-Burke Class destroyer USS CARNEY responded to the distress calls from the…
At the same time of increased quake activity in the Philippines, Indonesia experienced a significant volcanic eruption in West Sumatra, Mount Marapai. The death toll currently stands at 22.
About four to five days ago, there was a coordinated media effort to scare the hell out of the world with news regarding “White Lung Syndrome”. This outbreak originated in China of course. Now in the press… crickets…
Antisemitism is on the rise around the world. Congressional hearings were held with the Presidents of Harvard, Penn, and MIT. These three ladies are charged with the job of overseeing the education of the best students.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a Harvard alumni, had multiple rounds of questions for the Presidents of Harvard, MIT, and UPenn, for their failure to condemn antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric on campus.
Job 38:22-23 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?
God is talking to Job. Here is a likely hint into the end times scenario. It seems plausible as “the day” draws closer, frozen precipitation will increase.
Heavy snow and ice has frozen jets in Munich bound for Dubai's global warming conference. pic.twitter.com/N0RwePlqaC
Three-quarters of Europe is currently covered in snow. ❄️ In the southern regions of Central Europe, record snow heights are measured for the beginning of December (Munich reports around 40 cm). 👀 See snow cover map on Ventusky: https://t.co/RQ9BFlHvikpic.twitter.com/uRZuLHOTlc
Zephaniah 2:4-5 For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod’s people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.
Here is the latest from the Gaza Strip. The hostage exchanges are coming to a close. Well, maybe… The truce and hostage exchange has been extended another two days.
Ezekiel 38:22-23 I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. I will magnify and sanctify Myself, and will reveal Myself in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
A very powerful storm in the Black Sea sank buildings in Russian-occupied Crimea, stranded a ship in Russian Krasnodar region and left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity.
The events above are not the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38. The context of those verses are modern day northern Israel in and around the Golan Heights. This is a little taste of what is to come for Magog, modern day Russia, and friends (Turkey, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Ethiopia, others and proxies).
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Russia and Turkey are looking to have a natural gas hub in Turkey. Russia’s Gazprom and Turkey’s Botas are working together.
“I am sure that agreements on the practical implementation of this project will be reached in the near future,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
Psalm 136:15 …but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for His steadfast love endures forever…
A friendly reminder to those who want to mess with the Israelites in the Red Sea…
Terrorist and pirate activity in the Red Sea is increasing. The Iranian backed Houthis are hijacking ships, especially those they believe belong to or have ties with Israel.
BREAKING:
The U.S. Navy has taken back control of the Israel-affiliated tanker “Central Park Vessel" after it was hijacked by Yemeni Houthi rebels earlier today.
The Houthis Terrorist Group in Yemen has released Footage of their Hijacking yesterday of the Bahamas-Flagged Cargo Ship, “Galaxy Leader” in the Red Sea and its 25 Crewmembers which are now being held as Hostages due to the Houthis claiming the Ship was Linked to Israeli… pic.twitter.com/CFtOVvn20j
Rumor has it Venezuela is looking to invade Guyana. Brazil is mobilizing troops to their northern border. South America is getting more interesting. Oil and gas are at the heart of the matter.
🇧🇷🇻🇪🇬🇾 BREAKING!!! The Brazilian Armed Forces are on high alert following a notable deployment of military assets and personnel near the Eastern Venezuela-Guyana border.
Officials suspect a potential invasion by Venezuela to annex the "Guayana Esequiba" region, constituting… pic.twitter.com/LqMXjLgF9a
Ezekiel 25:15-17Thus says the Lord God, “Because the Philistines have acted in revenge and have taken vengeance with scorn of soul to destroy with everlasting enmity,” therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, even cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will know that I am the Lord when I lay My vengeance on them.”
Joshua 1:3-4 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses. Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and west as far as the Great Sea.
🚨RIGHT NOW: Millions of Israelis are running to bomb shelters as sirens sound in central Israel. pic.twitter.com/hUjuXsS9cZ
Exodus 23:31 And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.
Luke 21:9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.
⚠️ Confirmed: Real-time network data show that NetStream, one of the last remaining internet providers in #Gaza, has collapsed days after the operator notified subscribers that service would end due to a severe shortage of fuel supplies 📉 pic.twitter.com/HU1rw10rNy
Currently, internet and communications are being partially restored.
6/ The Islamic Resistance in #Iraq—a coalition of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias—claimed to attack US forces at al Tanf Garrison (ATG) in eastern #Syria on October 27.
Local media reported two other unclaimed drone and rocket attacks on US forces stationed at bases in eastern and… pic.twitter.com/RIvhsYXfvu
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) October 29, 2023
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The Shifa Hospital is not only the largest hospital in Gaza but it also acts as the main headquarters for Hamas’ terrorist activity.
Terrorism does not belong in a hospital and the IDF will operate to uncover any terrorist infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/Ybpln5xQb2
JUST IN – Chinese Defense Ministry Confirms Six Warships in Middle East
– The 44th Naval Escort Task Force, based in the region since May, conducted a joint exercise with the Omani navy and recently embarked on a goodwill visit to Kuwait.
The President of United States, Joe Biden has Delivered a War Powers Notification to Congress notifying them of the recent Airstrikes against Iranian-Backed Militias in Eastern Syria on October 26th, following over 15 Drone and Rocket Attacks by these Militias on U.S. Forces in… pic.twitter.com/jrarj5JP1y
Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
The Republicans have finally elected a new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson of Louisiana. In a strong foreign policy move as far as God is considered, his first act as Speaker was a resolution in support of Israel.
“The first bill I’m going to bring to this floor in a little while will be in support of our dear friend Israel and we are overdue in getting that done.” -Speaker Johnson
The resolution passed 402-10. Six members voted “present”.
In the name of balance, let’s see how “The Squad” voted. Links are provided for those who wish to reach out to “The Squad”. Please be civil.
Luke 21:25 And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves…
In a shocking turn of events, Hurricane #Otis in the Eastern Pacific has unexpectedly, explosively intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane in just 12 hours.
Even worse, the storm is expected to make a catastrophic landfall tonight as a Category 5 hurricane… pic.twitter.com/VNOhGzNPOy
Ezekiel 38:10-12 Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: You (Gog) will say, “I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land…”
With God’s help, Bibi can walk this tightrope. But now, at least the formation of the government hurdle is past the President’s office.
Many important strategic decisions will shake out of this. Regional allies (crazy age we live in that one can type that with respect to Israel) want to see a muscular, assertive Israel that acts with dignity. These would be the Abraham Accord partners. Rumor has it that if another weak Lapid like coalition government had come out of the elections that the Saudis would have continued fence sitting. The same set of speculation to Czekmate holds that with a reliably strong leader like Netanyahu, the Saudis are disposed to negotiating a more durable peace with Israel.
What is even more fascinating is that in partnership with Israel, the Arabs are prepared to go their own way on economic redundancies.
Much of the world’s energy must cross through three maritime choke points: – the Strait of Hormuz, where the Persian Gulf empties to the Indian ocean; – the Strait of Bab al Mandeb, where the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean meet; – the Suez Canal, joining the Mediterranean and Red Seas.
In the cases of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandeb, there are Iranian direct or proxy military hazards to free navigation. In Egypt, which is the custodian of the Suez Canal, there is a stirring of the Muslim Brotherhood within the country.
Among western oriented Arab elite, there is growing doubt over the attenuated strength of the US Navy and it’s enduring strategy to keep maritime sea-lanes and choke points open.
The remedy, since the Briben administration came into office, has been to work bilaterally with a strong Israel. But alas, they’ve had a downright epicene (and corrupt) specimen of a government in Jerusalem under Lapid. There was not much upon which to predicate a reliable diplomatic/economic partnership. Netanyahu’s success renews a dynamic that again invites serious, durable changes to the national economic postures of all concerned.
The credible rumor of what is ahead went on, that Saudi Arabia would be more inclined to negotiate a permanent peace with attendant economic measures. This includes, major capital investments in partnership with the UAE to build pipeline infrastructure from the Persian Gulf to the Israeli coast for onward export. This would bypass all three maritime chokepoints, diminishing the growing Iranian influence in all three places and hedge against the absence of a robust and ubiquitous US Navy upholding it’s tacit obligation to enforce freedom of navigation in those places.
Solution wise, is this a panacea? No. It presents a whole new set of problems.
Having Israeli gas online in concert with overland energy flows, you are now talking a supra-national energy output to Europe that rivals Russia. Russia and Iran have become more symbiotic than ever, especially since the Ukrainian mis-adventure. More on that at another time perhaps.
In the meantime, keeping an eye on Israeli government formation is the mission of the day.
Ezekiel 38:13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, “Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?”
Joel 1:4 What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; and what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten; and what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten.
A characteristic of the end times scenario is locust infiltration into Israel on a massive scale. The prophet Joel warns of a time when food production from the land will be scarce. Locusts will devour food and vegetation.
April 2021: Locust swarms have moved into southern Israel near Eilat. The port city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea. Granted, this is as far south as one can go in Israel, but locusts have made an appearance in the Promised Land. Everyone relax, animals and humans are not in harm’s way according to the experts.
World Atlas
Northeast Lebanon: Winds from Saudi Arabia have blown locusts into Lebanon. The Lebanese Army is using helicopters and pesticides to combat the situation.
“It is a very rare occurrence… the breeding grounds were on the Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia’s northern coast, so they were blown in through Jordan and Syria. But so far it is under control and I certainly see nothing to panic about.” -Maurice Saade, UN Food and Agriculture Representative Lebanon
protect the human body against the harmful effects of radiation
suppress the growth of cancer cells
prevents the development of heart attack and stroke by boosting the effect of blood-thinning drugs
increases immunity levels
helps control cholesterol levels
combat inflammatory processes
enhances regeneration of tissues.
Is there a hint of the prophetic future with benefits of a locust diet? Fights the effects of radiation? Suppresses cancer? Enhances tissue regeneration? Increases immunity?
Sounds like an antidote to nuclear exposure and disease to me. Eat up! The locust is kosher.
Leviticus 11:22 These of them you may eat: the locust in its kinds, and the devastating locust in its kinds, and the cricket in its kinds, and the grasshopper in its kinds.
Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet…
The prophet Ezekiel says Russia will be joined by several countries with their future invasion of Israel (Ezekiel 38-39). One of those countries will be Persia. The country was known as Persia until the name change in the 20th century. This is modern day Iran…
Google Maps
March 2021: News outlets (including the Middle East Eye, Haaretz, and The Times of Israel) around the Middle East are quoting a Wall St. Journal article. The Wall St. Journal has quoted “US and regional officials.”
Reuters
At least 12 Iranian oil tankers or ships containing Iranian freight have been targeted by Israel. The Iranian ships are typically bound for Syria. This has been occurring since 2019. To date, none of the Iranian vessels have been sunk.
“Officials” suggested Israel is looking to stop the flow of money to fund terrorism. Financial resources “are funding extremism in the Middle East”.
Israel has blamed Iran for an attack on an Israeli cargo ship the MV Helios Ray.
Iran blames Israel for a series of mysterious explosions at nuclear facilities along with the execution of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
Factions of Israeli representatives also blame Iran for a massive oil spill that washed a shore on the Mediterranean coast.
Israel has blasted Iranian supported Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Syria.
The altercations have taken place in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Both Iran and Israel refused to comment on the recent history.
United States President Biden is looking to rejoin the nuclear deal between world powers and Iran. And so the plot thickens.
Isaiah 11:15 And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; and He will wave His hand over the River with His scorching wind; and He will strike it into seven streams and make men walk over dry-shod.
The Sea of Egypt is what we know today as the Red Sea. There are two tongues of the Red Sea. The northeast tongue is the Gulf of Aqaba. Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia share the tongue and have ports here.
The northwest tongue is the Gulf of Suez. This gulf solely belongs to Egypt. At the end of the gulf is the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It is the fastest path from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. The canal’s history dates back to 1,874 BC. It has a depth of 66 feet. Without the canal, freight would have to go around the southern tip of Africa. 8% of the world’s cargo went through the Suez Canal in 2009 (Information provided by Suez Canal Authority).
There is some debate about the river in this verse. Some interpret this to be the Euphrates River. Some take it to be the Nile River. Take your pick. The Bible says both of these rivers are going dry during the Tribulation.
Revelation 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.
Isaiah 19:5-7 The waters from the sea will dry up, and the river will be parched and dry. The canals will emit a stench, the streams of Egypt will thin out and dry up; the reeds and rushes will rot away.The bulrushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile and all the sown fields by the Nile will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
The context of this verse is the Sea of Egypt. The Nile River delta branches into seven smaller tributaries before it empties in the Mediterranean Sea. I would lean towards this verse being about the Nile River going dry.
The grammar in Hebrew is direct. God will cause this to happen. There will be no doubt. It will be so dry, people will be able to walk across the River on dry land. His method will be a hot scorching wind. Keep in mind, the level of the Nile River is currently dropping due to weather and a dam being built on the Nile in the center of Africa.
Imagine what will happen to the price of oil when the Suez Canal goes dry. Combine that with all the money governments around the world are printing. Can you say massive inflation!
